Water-supply system



July 1, 1930.

G. R; ALEXANDER WATER SUPPLY' SYSTEM- Filed June 6, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 a @ALEXANDER July l, 1930. G. R. ALEXANDER n 1,769,094

WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM Filed June e, 192s 2 sheets-sheet 2 eiliciencyin the pump. Y

"appueaan mea; Jumelage. 4`Yl`senat No. @lacca The jpresent invention relates to i improve-l ments in Watersupplysystems Lof the type` i The primaryobject of the invention is` to provide simplev andvetlicaciousfmeans for compressing and delivering air into the storage tank and ormaintaining the' air pres sure in said tank Within a 'predetermined Workingrangeli Another object of the invention is. to prol,

vide ymeans of the character described in Which the Water forced from the pump into thetank serves as Vthe, air` compressing medium and the ,pipes connectingy the pump and tank serve as amedium for conducting l v M u start and stop" the motor, depending upon` v the air and'tvater to lsaid tank.

further v object is to generally simplify y i' andjimprove the construction, arrangement'y and mode oiiyop'eration of v,Water"supply` system''apparatus so asl to reduce the 'cost of installation and upkeep, render` the system more certain and reliable in its operation and do away Withjspecial airj compres` sing apparatus, such as additional motorsl and pumps, or means `providing for the in- Y troduction oi' air through thepump itself, which latter 'arrangementcauses a loss 'of yThe inventionpossesse's other advantages and features,`sonie of which, vviththe foregoing7 Will be Vsetyftortlrat length in the` following' description Vwherein* -I Vshall out-'i line in full that form of vthe invention ,which I have sclected'for `illustration in thedraw-l ings accompanying and'jformingfa partot thepresentspecification. In said dravvings'y Ihavvev shown one form of the construction but itis to beunderstoodthat Ido not limitmyselic to'gsuch, form sincethe inven-` tion as. .expressed in the claims be ernbodied in a plurality of forms,y y

Referringto the' dravvings: Y Fig. l represents avertical sectional vievv partly in sideA elevation of apparatusy ofthe invention. g

yfrom a source of supply,y such as a Weller vmaintain the requisite. air pressure, results `ing check valve arranged to permit air to ectionalvivieiv. of a special valve construe# tioniiorming a partotthe apparatus. t t

yFigis .a viewsi'rnilar to Fig. `1,2 ofA a` modified form of''the''invention. y

Y Fig. V4,'S detail sectional .view flfll valve" Vemployed in the form ofthe invention Yshown in Fig.3. y y p l Y. p

vIn t carrying :out my invention `the yappa- A `ratusemployed is vof a simple;` compactf naT ture and ris adapted to be incorporated through --pipe connections with alstandard, Water supply".system,y` embodying .a hydro# pneumatic pressuretank for storing the `Wa-4 w ter( supply,r a pumpfvfor delivering Water cistern,into the tank, and. automatically "op- *i erated means so associated With the tank,` and pump motorthat it will automatically the air pressure or Wat-er levelfwithin the tankf Heretoiiore n in Vvorder to maintain an air pressurey Within the tank sufficient to intrfugal orrotary, airhas beenfintroduced through the pump casingand forced With the Water to-thetank through the pipe connection. In the former case, employment of an air compressing-.motor or av standard type of air compresslng unitl of any character involves an additional expense of installation and upkeep and renders the operation of the system less reliable.` In the latter case, the elciency of the Water pump is im paired bythe introduction of'air into the pump itseli'.l In all attempts to reliablyand eifectively, but Within a reasonablefcostof installation and upkeep, introduce air v and y havefbeen more or less unsatisfactory. f

I connect withr thegpipingV leading `from theMpump to thev storage tank an air-com` presslngchamber having an inwardly` open-` Y enter said-chamber. This'chamber is so arranged that :When` ivater'is forced by the pumpto the storage tank, it may be directed W l Y, f y p v into the air' compressing",chamber whereby i* 1g. 2 1s an enlarged fragmentary verticalv the air in said `chamber Willbe compressed 10o I 4'1,769,1'194I i i and precede the water through said pipe connections tov the said hydro-pneumatic pressure or storage tank.

The invention consists essentially in the provision of means of a nature suchas gen erally described, which causes the water dclivered by the pump 'prior to its being dis'- charged in the lstorage tank, to compress air and force the air thus compressedfinto the storage tank, at the same time thaththe latter is being supplied with water.

Referring particularly to the drawings,

' wherein I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention; 1 designates. a.

foot valve carried upon a pipe 2,.eXtending into a well or other. source of water supply, not shown. The pipef2 is connectediwith a centrifugal pump `3 mounted upon a base 4- and, operated by a motor 5,v preferably an electricmotor. The pipe 6 entends from the e pump 3, and by means of ay T coupling 7 is ,connected with a pipe 8, which latter through aT coupling 9fis connectedwith and arranged todischarge into the lower lside of a hydro-pneumatic pressure'or s tor` agetank'lO. From the coupling 9, a pipe 11 leads to service pipes or mains, not shown.

Mounted upon thetank'l() is an automatically operated device 12 of standard con#l struction, well known in the art, jforjthe purpose of automatically opening and closing the electrical circuit Vfor the motor, depending upon the air pressure in the tank 1Q. As such controlling devicesare wellknown inthe art, it is thought unnecessary to il# lustrat-e and describe the same in detail.

The apparatus'of my invention comprises an air compressing chamber or tank '13, the

lower end of which is connected with the T eoupling'7 by pipes 14 and 15which latter are joined by ar Y coupling 1G. Acoupling 17 is mounted upon the upper end ot' the tank and extending therefrom are coupled pipes 18 and 19, the latter of which is conneeted by a coupling 2O with the pipe 3. On one sideA of the 'coupling 2O in the pipe 8, there is provided a check valve 22 which opens Atopermit the discharge ot airand water through the pipe 8 and coupling 9 into' the' tank 10 but prevents water from passing back 'through thepipe 8 towards the pump. Likewise, Vthe 'hand valve 21 is provided so that it :may be closed to prevent air and wav ter passing :tromA the pipe 19 into the 'pipe' Y T he Y coupling ldhouses an automatic check. valve generally designated 2,4, which valve 8;, from passing backthroughthe pipe 8 intol the pipe .6 'and pump3. fA similar hand valve' 23'Yis mounted in the ypipe 15 between rthe. couplings 7v` and 16, whereby the dis'- charge 'of water fromfthe pipe Grinto theY pipes 8 and 15 may be regulated as desired.

comprises a fiat shutter or plate 25 hinged or pivoted at one end or edgel as at r26, soI Y that it will normally lie in an inclined position; upon a seat 27 provided at the inner 'end'of one of the terminal portions 28 of the coupling. Preferably the coupling is dividedt into halves, said halves being threaded Y ftogethe'r, wherebythe lassembly of the coupling has a, downwardly extending drain pipe 30 connected therewith and the inner end ot this branch is adapted to be closed by the valve 25 during the operation of the pump, there being provided a seat 31 at the inner endet the portion 29 against which Ythe valve engages. The' remaining terminal portion or extremlty32 of the coupling 16 is connected with the lower end of the pipe 1.4which latter leads directly into the chamber V13. f Areliei port33 is provided in the valve 25 to permit of the discharge of water through said port, whereby the pressure will be reduced sutliciently to permit the valve to gravitate intoy position closingthe portion 28 so as lto prevent flow of water to the pump when the latter ceases toaoperate, the valve engaging the seat 31 being so inclined that it will, upon removal of the pressure holding it closed,-gravitate into its other closing poeinen.

YAir lto be compressed in the chamber or tank 3 enters the latter through an inwardly opening check valve 34 mounted upon the coupling 17. Operation To-'prepare the apparatus for service, the

valve 21 is closed and the valve 23 is opened,

airof atmospheric pressure having'entered the tank 13 through, the Check valve 34. 7When the pump is started the water will be .drawnlthrough the pipe 2 into the, pump 3 `and forced therefrom through the pipe 6 into thepipe 15. The torce et' thecwater or impact `thereof against the valve 25, which normally lies so as to close the upper end of the terminalportion 23, will cause the valve to move intoA a position closing'the drainor outlet portion v29 and the pressure of the wa- Ater forced by the pump will maintain said valve in said Vposition so long as the pump is in operation. The water will then pass freely through the coupling 16, pipe 14, and

into the tank ori compartment 13, causing the Vair therein tokbe compressed, The air compressed. will Aprecede'the water through the Vcoupling 17 pipes 18 Vand 19,L coupling 20,

tomati'cally V'operated device As soon 'agibthepump stops, the checkvalve 22"'ivillpre` ventibackyiiow of Water''throughthe pipe 8.

outlet member 291 for suchp'eriod ottimexas' is requiredr yfor. sufficient amount ofthe Waterftdleak through the' port 33-that Will cause thepressure of the Water in the tank* 13" and couplingk 16 to be reduced,` v'.lheyalve will vvgravitate 'into'c'losing or, checking position` to Y1r` reventback:flow otrvater into .the pump. y"This requires but a short period 'of time to effect automatically checking or closingl of thev valve andthe Watertrapped in the apparatus will drain through; the mcm- 4ber 29 and pipe BOback to thesource of sup? v'V'VVhen the 'pressure inthe tank l0, due Y toleakage or tothe Withdrawal 'of thev Water supply in said tank',is-reducedfto a point below` WorkingV factor, vsay f for example thirty pounds, the automatically operated `defvice operates as described to close the` circuit for 'the motor '5 and the pumpy will; immediately begin to operate-so that the ZWater and air supply to the tank flO'fWil'l be replenished afterthe manner irstdescribedl 5 ay slightly imodified i form :of the invention wherein' thereis oonnectedwith a pipe 53 leading-from a source `of `Water supply, notv shown," a lcentrifugalpump 54 operated by f a motor 34,' .both pumpy and motor being supported on a `base"l35-` Leading upwardly from the pump 32 is a pipe 36Which communicates with the lower end of an air compressor chamber 37. Extending :tromthe upperside of the chamber 37 is a pipe'con-A .lnection 38.v leading to the lower side of la storage tank39. A check valve 40 is mounted in the pipe 38 to control the passage of f compressed air and Water to the tank. Connected by means of a fitting 41 With piping 38 is a suitable inwardly opening checkvalve 42 arranged to permit air to enterthe compressor chamber 37 but to prevent air from passing out of the compressor'chamber 37 or pipingL 38. yAn automatic valve 43 `is connected by a piping. 44 tothe pipe 36 and extending from the valve 43 is a discharge pipe 45. The automaticvalve 43 comprises a globular casing46 having lnipples 47 and f 48 to which the `pipe lines 45 and 44are connected. n At the inner end of the nipple 47'is a valve seatf'49 against which va ball rlhe operat'onoi' this` form of thelinvention is substantially the ysame as in the other "With the discharge v or thevvater being pumped maintains this vard ttings in this construction.

yb 'cr into said tank.

form, the only diflierencejbeing that by piping leading from the `pump A`directly-to i 3iV sage to the .tank being,throughfthej` come: presser chamber.; As thewater'vis pumped through the pipe` '36, part of it passes through the piping 44into the valve and the impact'of the Water against the valvef causes the sameto the seat 49 andl to shutfo' communication pipe 45. The pressure valve closed.` Thefvvater A, passes upwardly into the compressor therein and Vthe compressed air preceding theWa-teiV enters said tank through the-1 piping 3S.l -By means of an 'electrical control- `form of the invention, when thefair vpressure Withina the tank reaches a predetermined move upwardly against tank, compresses the Lairl ling device generally designated 52, vvassoi. `ciated Withfthe tank 39, as in the preierredj` point7 the electricalcontrolling device shuts onT th emotor 34 and the fpump ceases to "opf' erate'. v -1As -soon las. theA pump ceases, ther' pressure of Water on the ball valve y1si're euced and thevalve dropsinto normal pesiftion shortntin Fig. 4.' `The Water draining fromfithe tank 37 will'v then pass through 'i the pipe 44, valve casing 43 and' out through the discharge pipe 45. The force of the' valve between the protuberances-l so that the ful-l force thereof` is not directed'upon the valve and therefore in this Way the valve does notinteriere with Water draining from the" system. The suction producedA1 by ythe Water ydraining -rom the compressor tank induces a quantity oi air-through the check valve 40 into the compressor chamber 3 7 sof that upon the next `operatio'n,'air Will/be. compressed and delivered to the main tank. The main'tank is obviously connected with a Water distribution system, not shown.l The valve 4Q closes as soon asthe motor ceases to operate.

Thisl form of ple, compact and permits 4or" the use of stand@k tank, arotary pump for delivering Water.,

i i Water returning' or passing through the pipe 1 loo `the invention is more sim- .n

from a source of supplyintovsaidftanhigan f air compressingchamber, means fork causing Water forced by said pump uto 'enterf and compress .airin said chamber and means conducting compressed air from saidjch n- 2. A Water supply system embodying a tank, a rotary pump fordeliveringwater f to the tank, an air compressing chamber, means' for causing Water Jorced bysaid pump to enter and compress air in fsaid chamber and means for conducting c6111-,

for; 'i

pressed air ,and'fwater from said chamberf into said tank. v f l 3.-. A lwater "system vembodying aV vstorage tank,'a rotary"V pump for delivering water tosaidtank, an air compressing chamber,

means causing water forced byzsaidl pump to :enter and compress air in said chamber, means operating to stop the pumpingy opera- 'tionxwlien the pressure of air in the tankreaches a predetermined point, a drain` pipe connected with the means of communication between theA pump and compressor chamber,

anautoniatic valve acting to shutoff coinmunication with the drain pipe upon operationof the pump and to communicate the drainpipe with said means of rcommunicationwhen the pump ceases to operate. a

n 4. AY Vwater system embodying a storage tank, a rotary pump for delivering water to said tank, an air compressing chamber, means causing water forced by said pump to -enter and compress air `in said chamber, Y meansoperatingto stop the pumping operation' when the pressure of air inthe tank reaches apredetermined point, a drain pipe connected with the means of communication between the pump land compressor chamber., an automaticV valve acting to ,shut off communication withzthe drain pipe upon` operal ftion of the pumpand to communicate Vthe drain pipe with said means of communicationwhen-the pump ceases to operate and anv inwardly opening check. valve through which air is introduced into the compressing chamber upon drainage of water from said chamber. n Y A Y 5.A water supply system embodying a storage tank, a rotary pump fordelivering ,water from a source of supply 'into said 'tankmeans for conducting water fromthe' pipe connection from the air compressor tank 'to 'said conducting means.

7, ,A water supply system embodying al s torag'etank, a rotary pump for delivering water `from a source of supply into said tank's means for conducting water from the pump-to the tank,an air compressing chamber, afp'ipe connection between said conducting4 means and said compressing chamber, a pipe connection from the air compressor tank to said conducting means and valves foriindependently controlling the introduction .E of water to said compressor chamber and storage tank respectively.v

Y8. A water supply system embodying a storage tank, a rotary pump. `for delivering water from a source vof supply into said tank, means for conducting water 'from the pump to the tank, an air compressing chamber, a pipe connection between saidconducting means and said compressing chamber, a

pipe connection from theair compressor `tank to saidA conducting means, valves for independently, controlling the introduction `of water to said compressor vchamber and storage tank respectively and means automatically draining ofi' the water having entered said'conipressor tank, when the pump ceases to operate. l

9. A` water supply system embodying a storage tank, 'a rotary pump for delivering water to said tank, an air compressingchamber, means for causing water which has passed through said pump to enter and comv press air in said. chamber and means for conducting air from the chamber to saidV tank.k u

10. Ina device of the character-described,

the .combination of a pressure tank,rrotary means for forcing `liquid into said tank,

andtrapi means for delivering a `quantity ofy gas into said tankateach period of operation of said means for forcing Vsaid liquid into said tank, and automatically functioningto rechargethe trap with a fresh charge of gas during each inoperative period of said liquid forcing means.`

GEORGE n. ALEXANDER. 

